Omaha daily bee., 1887-10-24
THE INSTITUTIONS OF RUSSIA.
Despotism and Offlcial Cruelty Still
Existing.
THE CAPITAL OF THE EMPIRE.
A Study OF the Czar-Nihilism-Di
matte Of'iccfs-The Money Chang
ers-An Americans View OF
the Empire.

spouusuCe vi tne DEE. I-lNuSSlun ueS-
potism and official cruely is to-day all
that it has been during the past CEN
tury. The changes time has wrought
have been only in the forms OF applica-
tion; the aims and ends are the same.
Alexander III continues to hold, rs did
Ivan the Terrible, that the people are
the servants Of the Czar, instead OF the
ruler being the servant OF the people.
The order Of common sense and Justice,
rs nowhere else on the face of the earth
Is reversed.
Less is known OF Russia. both inside
ana outside the empire, than OF any
other country yet discovered, but great
deal has been written about it and pub
lished in every language. In some
countries the reading people think they
know all about Russia, and have very
exalted opinion about it, while in others
the effect Of reading has led the people
but the inhabitants and all who have TO
do with governing it. Most that 1
read Of Russia in America and learned
in England was apocryphal. Even the
maps misled me, and those who had Wis.,
tied the country could render little as
sistance in telling me where to begin
and where to end my journey.
When, a few weeks ago in New York,
I determined to visit Russia and called
upon some acquaintances for informa-
tion on the subject was to investigate,
was told that my trip would certainly
be one of great pleasure and supreme
delight, and the stories concerningth
DEsPOTISM OF RUSSIA
were false; that I need have no fear of
dungeon horrors and Siberia, and that
should proceed with the same delibera-
tion and uninterruption would traverse
any other portion of the continent. At
London my English friends looked
aghast, and declared that I took my life
in my hands when l entered Russia, and
demonstrated against it. The English
know more of the country, the customs
and the alleged laws, find, than the
Americans; but being more excitable
and prejudiced, they are less likely to
do justice to the subject. The English
have said and done SO much against
Russia that, as general rule, they do
not receive the few civilities and privi-
leges granted strangers, and it Is not
strange that in London one hears SO
SO much about Russian affairs.
After fortnight's sojourn in the
| region Of the capital Of the empire,
am constrained to believe that very lit
| tie injustice could be done the govern
| ment were one to write it all down as
| diabolical and bad, for have been un-
| able as yet to discover q single act or
| design intended to ameliorate the
tyranny and burdens the people bear.
thought it quite exacting to have my
passport vised by the Russian minister
at Washington, or the consul at the
| point where I entered the country, be-
fore could see Russion soil, when a
1pt, o,,1 e,t, sp nj n
in no other country a man visits in all
Europe; but. when I learned that
| even the natives of Russia must take out
a passport every year and have it regu-
larly vised by the local officer before
they are exempt from contempt Of the
emperor, I concluded that strangers
were quite as we'll favored Us the czar s
own subjects. The object in requiring
natives to have passports Is revenue,
while aliens are put to this trouble and
expense for the purpose of inducing
them to stay out of Russia. All Russians
must be naturalized if they remain in
the country, and their passports, which
| cost them ten rOubleS year (abOut
S4.50), is evidence Of their naturaliza-
tion.
! The principal study am making in
Russia Is
PERSONAL TO THE czAR,
and comes under the title OF despotism
and nihilism-the disease and remedy.
1 have seen the czar, czarina, the family
all of the ruler, together with the
brothers and grand dukes remote, and
will write of these terrorisms later on.
At the frontier the stranger encoun-
ters little in the forms different from
other countries. The modes of inspect
ing baggage and withstanding personal
| lN ~ 1,o
usual. But as everything in Russia is
distinctly Russian, and therefore exceed.
ingly strange, the most experienced
traveller is possessed of a sense of con.
Germ il not fear. The through
trains from Vienna, Berlin and
other popular points Of departure for
Russia, land one on the frontier at
night. The place is small and the sta
tion swarms with Russian officers, big
burly fellows, with swarthy, unintelli-
gent faces covered with long, flowing
boards, and all dressed in the most elab-
crate uniforms. There is a clanking Of
and rushing hither and thither that is
appalling. Timid women travelling alone
have been overcome with fear or lost
their heads in this hustle.
The gendarme in charge is the first
officer who approaches the incomer
This is the highest ranking military
official, and he takes up the passports.
He is arrayed like Napoleon-a broad
topped cap of red, whi te and black;
dark-green frock coat, trimmed with
white and dccked with brass epaulets
weighing pounds; a huge belt and a
sword, which is hung to strike the
ground at every step and rattle like
musketry; pantaloons with deep white
stripe and tucked in knee-top boots;
spurs of enormous proportions, and a
revolver of sufficient size to gun for
buffalo. The passports and gendarme
disappear in the direction of the Office
of the Russian consul, where the dOcu-
ments are examined.
On the heels OF this diplomatic officer
| CUSTOMS LACKEYS,
who, without ceremony or invitation,
pick up the satchels, bags and bundles,
exclaim in Russian, 'custOm-hOu
and put out. The traveller follows. He
finds his trunks already on The counters
inside the station, and il they are un-
locked they are open and the contents
are being dumped on the floor. The
terror to the Russian government is
printed matter. Every newspaper, Cir
| 10 <al nut "a